Earlier suspended from the job, Aliona Strâmbeanu has now been fired as interim director of the National Academic Folk Dance Ensemble Joc. In a response to IPN, the Ministry of Culture said Strâmbeanu was let go after an internal inquiry found she committed “serious disciplinary violations”.

The inquiry was initiated after it became known that in early June several Joc dancers were hired by the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor to perform at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

When first summoned for explanations, Strâmbeanu said the dancers traveled to St. Petersburg as private citizens rather than representatives of the Ensemble. But according to the inquiry, it appears that the director allowed the dancers to use the Ensemble’s costumes and accessories for the private gig. The Ministry stopped short of saying that Strâmbeanu had consented to the whole affair.

According to the Ministry, the inquiry found other procedural violations as well.